Tag: lime

vodka

Vodka Gimlet | An Effortless 3-Ingredient Variation of a Timeless Classic Cocktail

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The Vodka Gimlet is a variation of the classic Gimlet using-- you guessed it-- vodka in lieu of gin. It's fresh, vibrant, and elegant. This rendition is perfect if you're looking to change things up, test drive a new vodka, or as an alternative for the imbiber who doesn't fancy the strong distinct taste of gin.

The Vodka Gimlet is a variation of the classic Gimlet using– you guessed it– vodka in lieu of gin. It’s fresh, vibrant, and elegant. This rendition is perfect if you’re looking to change things up, test drive a new vodka, or as an alternative for the imbiber who doesn’t fancy the strong distinct taste of gin.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

If you’ve been following along with me on my Instagram, receive my newsletter, or saw this Stork Club recipe post, you’ll know that I’ve been expecting a baby. Well, that baby is HERE!

While I was pregnant, I compiled a list of cocktail recipes made by my #drinkstagram friends. They all looked SO good and I was eagerly awaiting the day when I could safely enjoy them. That day has come. Technically. But the reality is that by the time evening comes around and both kids are in bed, I’m beat.

I have no physical or mental energy to spare on homemade ingredients and infusions. I don’t have the time for liquor store runs to purchase additional liqueurs and bitters, nor do I have extra cash laying around to pay for them. (Babies aren’t free– have you heard?)

I know one day I’ll be able to make all those recipes I’ve been drooling over. But for now, I’m at peace with my limitations. Limitations which are: minimal time + minimal ingredients.

Wouldn’t you know that classic cocktails are just that.

One of my all-time favorite cocktails is the gimlet. I was going to make myself one but then saw a new bottle of vodka sitting on my bar that has been waiting to be opened for months now.

Vodka is one of those spirits that I want to learn more about. I know that it can be distilled from a variety of ingredients (potatoes, wheat, grapes…) but it still mostly all tastes the same to me.

The Vodka Gimlet is a variation of the classic Gimlet using-- you guessed it-- vodka in lieu of gin. It's fresh, vibrant, and elegant. This rendition is perfect if you're looking to change things up, test drive a new vodka, or as an alternative for the imbiber who doesn't fancy the strong distinct taste of gin.

Howeverrrrr, when I opened up a bottle of vodka made from quinoa, my tune changed. The stuff tastes entirely unique. It’s got a unique earthy, mineral taste not common in vodka.

The best way to get a feel for a new-to-you spirit, after sipping it neat, is to use it in a classic cocktail. I plan on making a Lemon Drop using this quinoa vodka but thought that a Vodka Gimlet would be fun, too.

This was actually my first time trying a Vodka Gimlet and it was great. The quinoa lends some unique metallic notes to the drink while maintaining the tartness and crispness that I love in a classic Gimlet. I’ll definitely be trying out my other vodkas in a Vodka Gimlet to see how they all compare.

If you’re into the idea of a Vodka Gimlet, check out these other classic cocktail variations I’ve tried:

Have you ever made a Vodka Gimlet? Have you found that vodkas distilled from different ingredients produce a wildly different final product? Let me know in a comment– I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The Vodka Gimlet is a variation of the classic Gimlet using-- you guessed it-- vodka in lieu of gin. It's fresh, vibrant, and elegant. This rendition is perfect if you're looking to change things up, test drive a new vodka, or as an alternative for the imbiber who doesn't fancy the strong distinct taste of gin. | easy vodka recipes | classic vodka recipes

Vodka Gimlet

The Vodka Gimlet is a simple variation of the Gimlet, a classic cocktail. It's fresh, vibrant, and elegant. Since this drink only has 3 ingredients, using fresh lime juice will make all the difference.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz vodka
  • ¾ oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ oz simple syrup*

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker that's filled with ice.
  • Shake well, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe glass.
  • Garnish with a lime wheel.

Notes

*Making your own simple syrup is all too easy. Just add equal parts water and white sugar to a sauce pan. Heat until dissolved and let cool. 
Keyword gimlet, lime, lime juice, simple syrup, vodka, vodka gimlet

Ingredients to Make a Vodka Gimlet

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 3/4 oz freshly-squeezed lime juice (fresh makes all the difference)
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup (more or less to your liking)

How to Make a Vodka Gimlet

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker that’s filled with ice. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

rum

Happiness in Liquid Form | An Earthy Tiki Cocktail Recipe Inspired by Alfie Templeman’s Hit Song

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The Happiness in Liquid Form cocktail recipe is the perfect balance of fruity and earthy and it practically demands to be sipped on outside in the summer sun. It combines zesty lime, sweet pineapple, tropical passionfruit, and spicy ginger with smoky mezcal and aged rum.

Looking for the perfect summer cocktail recipe? Happiness in Liquid Form is the perfect balance of fruity and earthy and it practically demands to be sipped on outside in the summer sun. Read on to hear more about the inspiration behind this drink.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

If you didn’t know, Instagram is poppin’ with cocktail recipes. Before starting Girl & Tonic, I was unaware that such a world existed. At first, I was worried when I realized there were so many other cocktail accounts on IG. I mean… competition. Lots of it. But I soon learned that the #drinkstagram community is incredibly supportive. I’ve “met” some truly amazing people on it.

Some of those awesome people and I are in a group DM where were ask for advice on recipes, photography, and share photos of our pets and midcentury furniture (these are my people, y’all!). One of them, @soundtrackmydrink, came up with the idea to do a song swap– each of us picked a song and then that song was secretly given to another member of the group. The task was then to create a cocktail based on that song. Brilliant, yes? Also a great test of our creativity.

I was given @turnstylepoet‘s song of choice: Happiness in Liquid Form by Alfie Templeman. As soon as I heard the beat, I knew I had to go the tiki route. I mean, if you listen to the song, it sounds like summer.

The Happiness in Liquid Form cocktail recipe is the perfect balance of fruity and earthy and it practically demands to be sipped on outside in the summer sun. It combines zesty lime, sweet pineapple, tropical passionfruit, and spicy ginger with smoky mezcal and aged rum.

The beat of the song is peppy. It makes you want to dance or at the very least, drive with the windows down. A quintessential summer song, imo.

To match the summer disco vibes in Happiness in Liquid Form, I knew I wanted to use some traditional tiki flavors. Rum. Pineapple. Passionfruit. Lime. I also wanted to add a little earthiness to the mix since the song almost demands to be listened to outside with grass beneath your feet and the sun warming your skin. Enter smoky mezcal and the hemp bitters.

Beneath the upbeat tempo are some tortured lyrics, though. Alfie can’t figure out why his feelings are unrequited. To match his bitterness and cynicism, I added the ginger. It’s an underlying spiciness that doesn’t compete with the rest of the drink’s bright summer flavors. But it’s there.

Finally, to complete this Happiness in Liquid Form cocktail recipe, I added a spritz of peppermint hydrosol to match the initial happy-go-lucky mood of the song.

I realize this drink seems a little more complex than some of my recipes in the past, but it’s really not difficult to make. You can skip the peppermint hydrosol and the hemp bitters and still have a truly tasty drink. If you can’t find a pineapple-ginger juice blend, simply muddle a slice or two of fresh ginger in your cocktail shaker. Or add half a teaspoon of ginger paste.

The Happiness in Liquid Form cocktail recipe is the perfect balance of fruity and earthy and it practically demands to be sipped on outside in the summer sun. It combines zesty lime, sweet pineapple, tropical passionfruit, and spicy ginger with smoky mezcal and aged rum.

If you make this Happiness in Liquid Form cocktail recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram. I love seeing y’all’s reshakes! And stay tuned for next month’s newsletter because I’ll be including a list of songs and recipes from the other #drinkstagrammers who participated in this fun challenge!

Ingredients for the Happiness in Liquid Form Cocktail Recipe

  • 1 oz aged rum
  • 1/2 oz mezcal
  • 3/4 oz pineapple-ginger juice*
  • 1/2 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 3/4 oz passionfruit syrup**
  • 2 drops hemp bitters
  • 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
  • 1 spritz of peppermint hydrosol, optional

*If you can’t find a pineapple-ginger juice blend, simply muddle a slice or two of fresh ginger in your cocktail shaker. Or add half a teaspoon of ginger paste.

**My passionfruit syrup is quite sweet but other brands can lean more tart. Adjust this amount to your liking.

How to Make the Happiness in Liquid Form Cocktail

Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, about 20 seconds. Strain into a glass that’s filled with crushed ice. Spritz the glass with peppermint hydrosol. Garnish with a lime wheel and pineapple leaves.

Happiness in Liquid Form – An Earthy Tiki Cocktail Recipe

Happiness in Liquid Form is the perfect balance of fruity and earthy and it practically demands to be sipped on outside in the summer sun. It combines zesty lime, sweet pineapple, tropical passionfruit, and spicy ginger with smoky mezcal and aged rum.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 oz aged rum
  • ½ oz mezcal
  • ¾ oz pineapple-ginger juice*
  • ½ oz lime juice
  • ¾ oz passion fruit syrup**
  • 2 drops hemp bitters
  • 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
  • 1 spritz peppermint hydrosol (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Add all of the ingredients except the peppermint hydrosol to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake well, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a glass that's filled with crushed ice.
  • *If you can't find a pineapple-ginger juice blend, simply muddle a slice or two of fresh ginger in your cocktail shaker. Or add half a teaspoon of ginger paste.
    **My passionfruit syrup is quite sweet but other brands can lean more tart. Adjust this amount to your liking.
  • Garnish with a lime wheel and pineapple leaves.

Notes

*If you can’t find a pineapple-ginger juice blend, simply muddle a slice or two of fresh ginger in your cocktail shaker. Or add half a teaspoon of ginger paste.
**The passionfruit syrup I have is quite sweet but other brands can lean more tart. Adjust this amount to your liking.
Keyword aged rum, ginger, hemp bitters, lime, lime juice, mezcal, passion fruit syrup, pineapple juice, pineapple-ginger juice

Looking for some other summery cocktail recipes? Check these out:

  • Mezcal in Maui – another cocktail recipe with sweet pineapple juice and smoky mezcal
  • Summer Sipper – green tea, cucumber, & mint make for a very refreshing sip
  • Spicy Mango – a two-ingredient drink with sherbet & champagne
  • Isla del Sol – an irresistable passionfruit Paloma recipe

mocktail

Tonic Rickey | An Effortless Alcohol-Free Cocktail Option You Can Make in 2 Minutes

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This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don't feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won't leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. That's a win-win-win.

This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don’t feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won’t leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. That’s a win-win-win.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I originally saw this Tonic Rickey mocktail recipe on my friend Camille’s Instagram. I’ve followed Camille long enough to know that anything she posts is gonna be good. You can find her original blog post here.

The Tonic Rickey is Camille’s version of a booze-less Gin Rickey, a classic cocktail made using gin, lime, and club soda or seltzer. It’s very similar to a classic Gin & Tonic so if you’re a fan of one, you’ll probably like the other, too.

A quick FYI in case you’re unaware (as I was at one point in life): tonic water and club soda are not the same. And while you can sometimes get away with using one in place of the other, there is a major taste difference between the two. I broke down the differences between all the clear sparkling liquids out there in my Americano cocktail post, but here’s a brief overview:

  • Club soda = water infused with carbon dioxide and minerals like salt
  • Tonic water = carbonated water with minerals and also quinine, a bitter essence derived from the cinchona tree; it’s got a distinct taste
  • Seltzer = carbonated water that usually does not contain any minerals
  • Sparkling mineral water = typically naturally carbonated and has naturally-present minerals
  • Sparkling water = carbonated water that can be flavored and sometimes sweetened

In my opinion, club soda, seltzer, mineral water, and sparkling water can all be used interchangeably. Tonic stands apart from them.

This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don't feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won't leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. That's a win-win-win.

I really like Camille’s use of both club soda and tonic water. The reason being is that after the countless Gin & Tonic’s I’ve consumed over the years, my tastebuds now equate the taste of tonic with the taste of gin. And since this recipe is alcohol-free, it gives the drink some needed kick and flair.

Perhaps the best thing about this mocktail recipe is that if you typically keep a semi-well-stocked bar, you’ll always have the ingredients on hand. If you’re new to home bartending and what to know that products I recommend keeping on hand at all times, check out my Cocktails 101 article.

Another great thing about this recipe is that you could easily add some extra pizazz to it by adding a flavored simple syrup or a different variety of bitters. I think using lavender simple syrup with cardamom bitters would make for a killer Lavender & Cardamom Tonic Rickey.

If you make this Tonic Rickey mocktail recipe, be sure to tag both me (@girlandtonic_) and Camille (@thecocktailsnob_)!

Ingredients for a Tonic Rickey Mocktail

  • 1/2 oz fresh, fresh, fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 oz simple syrup (click here to learn how to make your own)
  • 1 1/2 oz tonic water
  • 1 1/2 oz seltzer or club soda
  • 3 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters

How to Make a Tonic Rickey Mocktail

Fill a Collins or highball glass allllll the way up with ice. Add the freshly-squeezed lime juice and simple syrup. Stir with a bar spoon. Pour in the tonic water and club soda, stirring gently to combine. Add the bitters to the top of the glass. You can choose to stir them in or let them settle on their own in the drink. Garnish with a lime wheel or fresh herb.

Tonic Rickey Mocktail

This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don't feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won't leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • ½ oz freshly-squeezed lime juice
  • ½ oz simple syrup*
  • 1 ½ oz tonic water
  • 1 ½ oz club soda
  • 3 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters

Instructions
 

  • Fill a Collins or highball glass all the way up with ice.
  • Add the freshly-squeezed lime juice and simple syrup. Stir with a bar spoon.
  • Pour in the tonic water and club soda, stirring gently to combine.
  • Add the bitters to the top of the glass. You can choose to stir them in or let them settle on their own in the drink.
  • Garnish with a lime wheel or fresh herb.

Notes

*To learn how to make your own simple syrup (it’s SO easy, I promise!), click here. 
Keyword angostura bitters, bitters, club soda, lime, lime juice, mocktail, simple syrup, tonic, tonic rickey
This Tonic Rickey mocktail is the perfect drink to make when you don't feel like imbibing but still want to sip on something special. It requires minimal effort, won't leave you hungover tomorrow, and you probably already have the ingredients at home. That's a win-win-win.
gin

The Stork Club | A Simple 5 Ingredient Prohibition Era Citrus and Gin Cocktail

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The Stork Club is Prohibition-era classic cocktail made with citrus and gin. It's named after the infamous New York nightclub. I modified a couple of ingredients to make it alcohol-free which I included in the notes.

The Stork Club is a citrus and gin Prohibition-era cocktail named after the infamous New York nightclub. I modified a couple of ingredients to fit my current dietary restrictions but my altered version is still a great tribute to this Prohibition classic.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I’ve been keeping a secret. For over 3 months now. But it’s time to spill the beans. I’m pregnant! My growing collection of mocktail recipes has raised a few eyebrows and now you know why. I think it goes without saying that you can expect a few more months worth of them. But don’t worry, I will always be giving you ideas for how to make my booze-free recipes booze-full. And I’ll also be posting many classic and modern craft cocktails, thanks to the new zero-proof spirit alternatives I’ve added to my bar cart.

Today’s cocktail recipe is The Stork Club. Quite apropos for a pregnancy announcement post, eh? I’ve got to thank my IG friend Risa of @risajamesphotography for the brilliant idea. The Stork Club is both a place and a drink. So we’ll talk about both.

The Stork Club is Prohibition-era classic cocktail made with citrus and gin. It's named after the infamous New York nightclub. I modified a couple of ingredients to make it alcohol-free which I included in the notes.

The Stork Club was the epitome of class, fame, and money. It was built by Sherman Billingsley and was open from 1929-1965, with a brief closure and relocation during 1931 after being raided by Prohibition agents. The Stork Club was most known for its many celebrity patrons, such as Ernest Hemingway, Walter Wenchell, the Roosevelt family, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the Kennedy family, Bing Cosby, Judy Garland… I think you get the picture. It was the place to be.

It’s signature drink was probably enjoyed by most of those celebrities. The traditional Stork Club recipe utilized Old Tom Gin, a sweetened gin that’s harder to find these days, and orange juice. Gin was arguably the most popular spirit during the Prohibition era due to the fact that it requires no aging and can be produced rather quickly by bootleggers. However, this fast-tracked spirit, sometimes referred to as bathtub gin, varied widely in quality and taste. Orange juice did a great job of covering these wrongs.

When I was doing some research for this recipe, I was surprised to see that many recipes differed from one another. Some called for more orange juice, some called for less gin. As I mentioned earlier, I used a zero-proof gin alternative for my particular Stork Club recipe and subbed in orange cordial for Cointreau/orange liqueur. You may want to add more orange juice if you prefer sweeter drinks or increase the lime juice if you like a little more tartness.

The Stork Club is Prohibition-era classic cocktail made with citrus and gin. It's named after the infamous New York nightclub. I modified a couple of ingredients to make it alcohol-free which I included in the notes.

If you make The Stork Club, be sure to tag me on Instagram and comment below. Seeing your creations always makes my day!

Ingredients for The Stork Club

  • 1 1/2 oz gin*
  • 1/2 oz orange liqueur**
  • 3/4 oz fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 oz lime juice
  • dash of Angostura bitters

*since I’m preggo, I used a zero-proof gin alternative. There are several out there, but you can check on my Instagram to see which brand I use & love.

**again, pregnancy means I can’t use orange liqueur so I made an orange cordial instead. It makes the drink a tad sweeter than Cointreau or another orange liqueur would so you can use less if you’re going the alcohol-free route with me.

How to Make The Stork Club Cocktail

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Or, you know, a Mardi Gras king cake baby if you’re trying to announce to the internet that you’re pregnant.

The Stork Club

The Stork Club is Prohibition-era classic made with citrus and gin. It's named after the infamous New York nightclub. I modified a couple of ingredients to make it alcohol-free which I included in the notes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz gin*
  • ½ oz orange liqueur**
  • ¾ oz freshly-squeezed orange juice
  • ¼ oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters

Instructions
 

Notes

*Since I’m pregnant, I used a zero-proof gin alternative. There are several out there, but you can check on my Instagram to see which brand I use & love.
**Again, pregnancy means I can’t use orange liqueur so I made an orange cordial instead. It makes the drink a tad sweeter than Cointreau or another orange liqueur would so you can use less if you’re going the alcohol-free route with me.
Keyword angostura bitters, blood orange juice, gin, lime juice, orange liqueur, stork club cocktail
mocktail

Ocean Water Cocktail & Mocktail Recipe | A Healthy 4 or 5-Ingredient Drink Made with Spira Electric Sky Natural Blue Pigment

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This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic's famous beverage with the same name.And this one is naturally-colored thanks to Spira's Electric Sky pigment. It's well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic's famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.

This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic’s famous beverage with the same name. And this one is naturally-colored thanks to the Spira Electric Sky pigment. It’s well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic’s famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions of Spira are my own. Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

If you’ve ever been to Sonic, you’ve heard of (& most likely tried) their famous Ocean Water. It’s super refreshing. A little tart, a little sweet. A perfect touch of tropical coconut. But there’s one problem I have with it. It’s blue.

When I was real young– I’m talking 5 or 6– blue-colored things didn’t bother me. I wouldn’t think twice before swiping a sour blue raspberry gel while waiting in line at Blockbuster to rent the latest Mary Kate and Ashley movie. But it didn’t take me too long to realize that the vibrant blue used in various foods and beverages is NOT natural. Raspberries aren’t blue. Neither are coconuts.

Now, I know that most red dye is not natural either. But my brain can make allowances because red foods like strawberries are pretty dang red. But blue stuff? No. I just can’t. Even blueberries and blackberries don’t make stuff that color blue.

It’s an unfortunate thing that Sonic uses blue coconut in their famous drink because I love the flavor of Ocean Water. In the past, I’ve ordered it and closed my eyes while I drank it. But eventually, I stopped that because I couldn’t abide that much artificial coloring. It’s the same reason I renounce all the tropical blue cocktail drinks.

This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic's famous beverage with the same name.And this one is naturally-colored thanks to Spira's Electric Sky pigment. It's well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic's famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.
Photo courtesy of Spira and Sasha Fishman

But then…. then I learned that there actually IS a naturally-derived electric blue pigment. What?! A natural blue? That I can put in foods and drinks? Turns out Spira discovered how to turn spirulina algae into a bright blue. They sent me a sample of their Electric Sky pigment and I am forever grateful. Now I’ll not only have a way to make fun blue cocktails, but I can use it to safely dye my kid’s cupcakes, play doughs, homemade bath fizzies, and anything else I want!

Y’all. Spira’s Electric Sky could replace Blue Dye #1 one day. How awesome would that be? No more fake dyes in our foods. No more synthetic dye sensitivities or allergies. This stuff could revolutionize the industry. Beyond the fact that it’s free of the fake stuff, it’s also plant-based, vegan, is sustainably-produced with no petroleum-based ingredients (🙌), and even has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Yep. It looks cool and it’s good for you, too. Can’t get much better than that.

Seeing as how this is a cocktail blog, I figured I would make a boozy version of my old childhood go-to. This Ocean Water cocktail is sure to refresh you and remind you of warmer days. And if you want to keep things real refreshing, just leave out the booze. I actually made it without alcohol the first time and it was amazing.

Like I mentioned, this Ocean Water cocktail (or mocktail) is healthier than it’s namesake (I mean… minus the alcohol). Instead of using coconut flavoring, I used real coconut water. I did try making this with lime sparkling water instead of Sprite and it was alright– I definitely preferred the Sprite version. But you can use sparkling water if you want it to be healthier. And the star of the show, the Electric Sky pigment, kept me from having to use artificial blue dye #1 to get the original blue look.

This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic's famous beverage with the same name.And this one is naturally-colored thanks to Spira's Electric Sky pigment. It's well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic's famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.

To order your own natural blue pigment, head here to Spira’s website.

Ingredients for an Ocean Water Cocktail or Mocktail

  • 1 1/2 oz white rum or vodka (optional)
  • 2 1/2 oz sweetened coconut water
  • 3 oz Sprite or lemon-lime soda
  • juice from 1/2 a lime
  • 1/8 teaspoon Spira Electric Sky (natural blue pigment)

How to Make an Ocean Water Cocktail or Mocktail

Add all ingredients to a highball glass without ice. Stir well until the Spira Electric Sky pigment is dissolved. Slowly add ice to fill the glass. Garnish with a lime twist and a paper straw.

Ocean Water Cocktail or Mocktail

A healthier version of Sonic's famous Ocean Water drink made with Spira's Electric Sky all-natural blue pigment. Make it boozy by adding alcohol or enjoy it without.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz white rum or vodka (optional)
  • 2½ oz coconut water, sweetened
  • 3 oz Sprite or lemon-lime soda
  • â…› teaspoon 1/8 teaspoon Spira Electric Sky (powdered natural blue dye)

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients to a highball glass without ice.
  • Stir well until the Spira Electric Sky pigment is dissolved.
  • Slowly add ice to fill the glass.
  • Garnish with a lime twist and a paper straw.
Keyword lemon-lime soda, lime, lime juice, natural blue dye, natural blue pigment, ocean water, ocean water cocktail, sparkling coconut water, Spira, Spira Electric Blue, Sprite
This Ocean Water cocktail and mocktail recipe are based on Sonic's famous beverage with the same name.And this one is naturally-colored thanks to Spira's Electric Sky pigment. It's well-balanced between tart and sweet and is healthier than the original version. Keep reading to find out how to make Sonic's famous blue coconut-flavored drink at home.

If you’re looking for another easy mocktail recipe, check out my Grapefruit Rosemary Spritzer.